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Patented Nov. 22, I898. C. L. IRELAND 8:. F. J. WlCH.

L. m. IRELAND, Administratrix of c. L. IRELAND, Dec'd.

VISE JAW FDR LINOTYPE MACHINES.

(Application filed Dec. 31, 1897.)

W/TNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

LOTTIE M. IRELAND, OF NE YORK, N. Y.', ADMINISTRATRIX OF CHARLES L. IRELAND, DECEASED, AND FERDINAND JOHN WICl-I, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE COMPANY,

OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

VlSE-JAW FOR LlNOTYPE-MACHINES.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,550, dated November 22, 1898.

Application filed December 31, 1897. Serial No. 665,187. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that CHARLES LEWIS IRELAND, late a subject of the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Manchester, England, but now deceased, and FERDINAND JOHN Wren, of Manchester, England, a subject of the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Vise-Jaws of Linotype- Machines, (for which Letters Patent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, No. 2,857, dated February 7, 1896, have been granted,) and that the following is a full,clear, I5 and exact specification of the said invention and one that will enable any person skilled in the respective art to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in the vise-jaws of l'inotype-machines.

The machine described in the specification of British Letters Patent, No.14,582, 1890, and in United States Letters Patent, dated September 16, 1890, Nos. 436,531 and 436,532, is the best-known linotype-machine. For that rea- 2 5 son it is considered that the nature of the present invention can be best described in connection with it to which the said invention is particularly applicable.

In the machine in question a line of spacebars and independent metal matrices having indented characters in their rear edges is composed in a so-callec assembling-block and transferred from there by a shifter into a so-called yoke, whose function is to present the said line in front of a mold, the latter being a horizontally-positioned cavity in a vertical disk or mold-wheel. The front face of the latter and the rear face of the line in question are parallel planes in contact with each other over the whole rear face of the line from the moment of the presentation referred to. Provision, consisting of a so-called vise-top or visehead, is made for holding the two faces in contact. It still remains 5 necessary to clamp the members of the line longitudinally of the latter in order that it may not exceed a definite and predetermined rices to thick matrices.

length and that the said members may be held tightly against each other over their contacting side faces, and especially down their rear vertical edges. This clamping is effected in a vise into which the line is introduced by the motion of presentation above referred to. When it is borne in mind that molten metal is not simply poured but strongly injected into the mold, it will be perceived that any break in the rear face of the line along the front face of the mold will necessarily be as receptive of metal as are the character-cavities in the rear edges of the matrices. These cavities must be there to form the letters on the edge of the linotype. It is equally important that there be not any other cavities of any description, or there will be formed upon the edge of the linotype fins standing up between the letters high enough to take ink and print. The indented character is at the bottom of a cavity in the rear edge of the matrix. That is to be the clear space between two letters in the printed line is rep- 7o resented in the composed line of matrices and space-bars by the right and left side walls,

respectively, of the cavities in two adjacent matrices. These walls must be thin, each of them not more than half the clear space above mentioned; but the side faces of the matrices and space-bars in the composed line must fit up to each other metal-tight down their rear edges.

The earlier practice in connection with the machine described in the specification above mentioned was to make the opposite faces of the vise-jaws vertical and parallel. This combination of verticalness and parallelism would lead to a satisfactory result if the composed line of matrices would always present the regularity of a hexahedron; but in practice it does not do this, and there are several reasons for it not doing so. One of them is the difference between matrices in respect of the 0 way in which they bed up to each other. Thin matrices bed up to each other andto thick ones, too, much more truly than do thick mat- Another reason is the presence of foreign matter between the members of the said line. This matter is sometimes dirt which gets on the sides of the matrices during their progress through the linotype-machine, and sometimes it is metal which has come into contact with a space-bar during the act of casting and, such bar being .of steel and bright, has soldered itself to the side thereof. Another reason is that the side walls of the character-cavities sometimes get forced outward beyond the side faces of the respective matrices.

A subsequent practice in connection with the same machine is to taper the opposite faces of the jaws a little in such a way that the rear portions of them stand nearerto each other than do the front portions. The effect of such tapered shape is that the cramping is additionally severe through the rear face of the composed line; but even then the degree of continuity of surface attained by the rear face (the one adjacent to the moldwheel) of the said line is imperfect. The object of the present invention is to make such continuity possible in spite of the occurrence of some of the obstacles to it; and the invention itself consists in the combination of a cheek with either or with each vise-jaw, such cheek being separate from the respective jaw and connected to it bya pivot or a swivel, so as to make it self-adjusting in respect of the angle presented by the end faces of the composed line. The axis of the above-mentioned pivot or swivel may be either horizontal or vertical, or the capacities of the two positions may be merged in one cup-andball or equivalentjoint.

The accompanying figures represent the application of the present invention to a linotype-machine of the type described in the specification No. 14,582, 1890, above mentioned. They are to be taken as part of this specification and read therewith.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the viseframe, the two vise-jaws, a composed line of matrices and space-bars in the vise, and the movable jaw -controlling mechanism. The distorted position of the majority of the members of the line indicates the presence of foreign matters below the axis of the pivoted cheek. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the stationary part or base of the left-hand jaw in Fig. 1, looking at it from the right hand. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, partly in section, of the left-hand jaw in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the right-hand or movable jaw in Fig. 1 after the present invention has been applied to it. Fig. 5 is a top plan View showing the two clamping-jaws and the intervening line of matrices, one of the jaws and the matrices being shown in horizontal section. The foreign matters whose presence is indicated in the line by the distorted positions of about half the members thereof are evidently to the front of the vertical plane which contains the center of the pivoted cheek. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation, and Fig. 7 a plan, of a vise-jaw fitted with a pivoted cheek modified in respect of its pivot.

P is the vise-frame, and p p the two visejaws. Q is a composed line of matrices and space-bars held therein. Both jaws engage and are supported in a horizontal groove q, formed in the rear face of the said frame. The left-hand jaw 19 is held fast to the frame P,while the right-hand one, 13 is movablelongitudinally to and from its fellow jaw 12, according to the desired length of the linotypes to be cast. The working position of the said jaw 12 in the groove q is determined by the position of a backing-up nut or block 19 capable of a similar motion in the said groove. This nut or block is engaged by a horizontal screw 233, which is supported in horizontal bearings in the vise-frame P and is capable of only a rotary motion about its axis. Its

- outer end terminates in a square, by which it can be turned in either direction. The jaw p maybe either left standing up against the nut 10 during the interval between the removal of one composed line Q from the vise and the insertion therein of the next, or provision maybe made forits being automatically returned to its fellow 1) after each such re moval as well as for its being automatically moved outward up to the backing-up nut 19 Such provision is (dealing with the outward motion first) as follows:- The shifter before mentioned (being the organ that delivers the composed line Q in to the yoke mentioned farther on) moves horizontally from left to right (the observer standing on the rear of the viseframe as assumed by Fig. 1) and pushes the jaw 11 up to the nut 17 by engaging with an upstanding finger g. The jaw 19 is toothed along its front face to adapt it to be engaged by a spring-actuated pawl g as the series of teeth (shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 5) is pushed past the same. This engagement is necessary to prevent the premature return of the said jaw up to its fellow 19 before the introduction of the composed line Q into the vise shall have been effected.

p is a pin standing up from the pawl g and in the path of the so-called verticallyreciprocating yoke, (already mentioned,) which receives the line Q from the shifter above mentioned and introduces it into the vise. The engagement of this yoke during its descent with the pin p ,'which is beveled at its lower end to ride against the front of the pawl and force the same backward, frees the jaw 19 from the pawl g '13 is an arm constantly under the action of a spring forcing it over to the left, andj isa finger pivoted upon the top of it. Its upturned tip j is held in a hole in the under side of the jaw 19 by a constant tension-rod 7c. The fingerj, under the influence of the spring-actuated arm t' and the spring or tension-rod it, serves, as usual in linotype-machines, the double purpose of urging the jaw 13 to the left toward its companion and of sustaining in part the weight of the jaw in IIO order to reduce its friction on the supporting surfaces or guides. I r

The cramping action to which the composed line Q is subjected during the time it is in the vise is derived partly from the upward motion given by a rising pusher-plate (not shown in the figures) to the pendent members 0 of the space-bars, such upward motion being converted into one of longitudinal extension of the said line according to and as a consequence of the cooperating tapers of the two members of each space-bar and partly by the action of the screw p acting as a vise-screw to move the movable jaw 19 toward the fixed jaw 19. For the purpose of imparting such action to the said screw there is fast on the outer end of the screw a toothed segment 19, which is actuated by a vertically-reciprocating rack-bar q. The latter is operated at and during the proper times and terms from or by any suitable moving member of the machine to, first, advance the block (1 to cramp and to, second, retire the block to uncramp the line Q.

None of the mechanism detailed above forms part of the present invention.

Let it be supposed that the obstacle to the desired continuity described above consists of fragments of hard dirt. The presence of five separate fragments 0' is indicated on as many matrices in Fig. 1. They are all shown as being below a horizontal line drawn from the center of one jaw 79 to that of the opposite one, 19 and are supposed to be half-way between the front and rear faces of the composed line Q. \Vhen a composed line containing such a series of fragments is cramped between two vertical and parallel jaws, the line is longer at the bottom than at the top by the sum of the thicknesses of the fine ob stacles, and for that reason the top of it will be under slighter compression than the bottom. The tops of every two matrices having a fragment between them will therefore tend to stand apart more or less, thereby establishing a vertical chasm in the rear face of the line Q, which may extend down into the line a of the cavities in which the characters are indented. Any such downwardly-extending chasms will be included within the area of the horizontal mold-cavity in the moldwheel, and consequently a fin will be cast in each and will stand up between the two letters on the linotype high enough to print.

Another possible position of the obstacle is illustrated in Fig. 5. In this case the obstacle consists of a fragment 0' on one space-bar and four fragments 0 on as many matrices, all

'nearer to the front than to the rear face of the composed line Q and supposed to be halfway between the top and the bottom of that line. The resultant chasms in the composed line cramped in a parallel vise will be in the rear face of it and will extend from the top to the bottom of it.

Figs. 1, 2, and 5 show the application of the present invention to the stationary j aw p, the

connection between the cheek and the jaw consisting of a cup-and-ball joint. is the cheek. It is, as heretofore in the case of an engineers vise having a self-adj usting jaw, a separate and distinct piece of the same length and width as the jaw to which it is to be held. 2 is a ball fast to the cheek z and projecting more or less centrally from the back face of it. The surface of the ball touches the said face. There is a spherical cavity in the jaw opening out through the surface of it to receive the ball z. The provision for admitting the ball to the cavity consists of a loose block .2 which is held to the jaw by any suitable meanse. g., by screws z -after the ball z has been placed in position. face of the cheek a may be convex in either or both directions if the self-adjusting motion of which it must be capable requires such a conformation. A convexity from back to front is illustrated in Fig. 5. 2 is a steadypin fast to the top of the cheek z and engaging in a cavity 5 in the jaw. 2 is a spring bearing upon the bottom of the jaw and againt that of the cheek z for the purpose of keeping it in touch with the adjacent matrix.

Fig. 3 illustrates the application of the invention to both jaws of the vise.

The modification illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 consists in the substitution of a horizontal pin 3 and a vertical knuckle-joint for the cup-and-ball joint above described. The sides of the jaw are rabbeted and the back face of the cheek z grooved vertically, the resultant flanges 3 3 fitting into the rabbets. These flanges and the cheek 2 stop short of the opposite edges g and the jaw, respectively, by a sufficient distance to allow of the jaw rocking on the pin y. This latter is passed through the jaw and a pair of lugs or extensions g of the flanges 1 Further, the invention is not limited to any particular type of pivot or swivel and includes the application of any one capable of making the cheek self-adjusting to either or to both the jaws of the vise. The action of it when the fragments'are below the center or centers of the pivot or pivots is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. As soon as the jaws of the vise close upon the composed line Q and close the matrices and the space-bars upon themselves and the fragments 0' between them the line will be. longer through the foot of it than through the top. The cheek .e' (or cheeks if there is one on each jaw) will be rocked on its center until it is fairly in touch with the adjacent matrix over the Whole of the surface of the latter, and the subsequent cramping is distributed fairly through the composed line in the direction of the motion of the movable jaw 19 A matrix on one side of a fragment is closed up to the matrix on the other side of it, such closure being established at the top of the composed line Q to begin with and gradually extended downward through the line a of the cavities, getting nearer to the foot of the said line the more The back IIO other down their rear edges.

the fragment in question is flattened out; but the main object of the invention is accomplished if such closure passes the line (1, although the more perfect the closure the more correct will be the position of the letters on the linotype-body.

The action of the invention when the fragments are nearer to the front than to the rear face of the composed line Q, is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. As soon as the cramping has proceeded far enough to close the members (matrices and space-bars) of the line upon themselves and upon the fragments in the composed line the check a pivots upon its center, and the members are closed up to each This closure is sufficient to prevent the above described chasms and fins. The cramping is advantageously continued toward the front, getting nearer to it the more the fragments in question are flattened out.

What is claimed is- 1. In a linotype-machine, the combinatio of a series of matrices and two opposing jaws between which they are seated, one of said jaws provided with a rocking face, substantially as described and shown.

2. In a linotype-machine, the combination of two opposing jaws, one or both provided with rocking faces, means for supporting said jaws to prevent their separation, a series of matrices seated between the jaws, and expan= sion-spacers seated in the line, substantially as described and shown.

3. In a linotype-machine, a matrix-confining jaw, a cheek or face plate applied thereto, and a spherical support for said plate, allowing the same freedom of motion, substam tially as and for the purpose described.

Signed at New York, N. Y., this 23d day of December, 1897.

LOTTIE M. IRELAND, Adminisirdiria; of the estate of Charles Lewis Ireland, deceased. Witnesses:

PHILIP T. DODGE, J OHN F. GEORGE.

In witness whereof I, FERDINAND JOHN IVIGH, have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' FERDINAND JOHN WIOII.

Witnesses: V

FRANCIS D. JACKSON, WILLIAM GLENN. 

